Hurricane Lane, currently a category 4 hurricane, is expected to weaken as it approaches the islands, but the affects of its weather system could still cause widespread damage to the state.

Ms Bingaman warned that the centre of the hurricane could miss the islands, but that “the impact extends far beyond” the centre.

Hurricane Lane has been sweeping towards Hawaii and is threatening a potential deadly direct hit on the islands.

The category 4 storm was packing sustained winds of up to 145 miles per hour and could smash the islands with as much as 20 inches of rain, triggering flash flooding and landslides, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned.

Hurricane Lane update: The hurricane is expected to linger near the island for a number of days (Image: Hawaii News Now)